Fire-tongs



(NO Model.)

J. E. BISHOP.

FIRE TON GS.

Afforney JOHN EDlVARDS BISHOP,

Trice.

ATnNT OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.

FiRE-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,733, dated March 9,1886.

Application filed March. 11, 1885. Serial No. 158,463.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDwARDs BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Marcos, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Tongs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fire-tongs, and is designed to produce an article of this character which will be practicable in every respect, and which will prevent the slipping or sliding of the legs or arms thereof while handlingthe l gs, enabling the latter to be grasped with a firm hold, thereby avoiding the numerous accidents that often occur from the use of the present form of tongs.

\Vith these ends in view the said invention consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fire-tongs, showing the movable leg thereof extended. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section with the legs closed.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a vertical bar formed with the stationary leg B of the tongs, and slotted at its lower end to receive the upper end of the movable leg 0. The legs 13 C are similar in construction, having the main straight portion aorlegpropeigbent or curved inward at the lower end to clasp the log, and the upper semicircular portion, 12. The movable leg 0 is reduced or cut off at the upper end of the semicircular portion 12, to be received within the slotted lower end of the bar A, where it is pivoted, as shown, enabling the leg 0 to be moved outward until the outer upper edge of the said leg strikes against the outer edge of the bar A, so as to limitthe movement.

From the lower end of the semicircular portion b of the stationary leg B extends a curved cylindrical projection or arm, D, which tapers or increases in length from thefront end to the point where it connects with the portion 12. This projection or arm D is partly received, when the legs are closed, within acorrespondingly-shaped slotor opening, d, formed in the (No model.)

portion 1) of the movable leg 0. When the legs are opened to the full extent, thelength of the slot or opening d, and thus said arm cannot by any possible means be withdrawn.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawwas.

The tongs are operated in the usual manner to handle the logs and burning embers offires made from wood. In the original form of tongs, which are now in common use, the two legs that grasped the logs were pivoted together at the upper ends. By constant use the pivot soon Worked loose, so that when handling the articles the legs would shift or slide laterally and cause the article to be dropped. For these reasons, and from the particular nature of the parts to be handled, it has been found necessary to provide against this contingency, and enable the operator to obtain a firm hold on the outer face of thelogs in handling the same. To this end it has been proposed to provide one of thelegs of the tongs with a hollow cylinder to receive a projection or arm on the other leg; but this construction has been found both inconvenient and impracticable. In the construction stated the cylinder and arm project out nearly straight from the leg proper, and must be formed on the said legs.

In my improvement I dispense with the hollow cylinder altogether, and fit the projection or arm at the upper semicircular part of the stationary leg, the corresponding part of the movable leg being slotted to receive the arm, the latter being outof the way. Furthermore, by having one leg of the tongs stationary with the vertical bar A, less trouble will be experienced in holding the movable bar against the log; and, moreover, a certain degree of strength or rigidity is given to the arm D, that will be serviceable in holding the movable arm from workinglatcrally. WVhen both legs of the tongs are movable or pivoted together, no matter whether a guard-arm is our ployed or not, the pivot will soon work loose, and the objections heretofore pointed out will be experienced with equal effect.

Theimprovement shown and described is specially designed to be used on that class of the arm D is such thatitisstill retained within U fire-tongs which have a semicircular part at the upper end of each leg, so that when using the instrument the hands of the operator can grasp the semicircular part and have a firm hold on the article to be handled. Of course this particular form of tongs is not new; but the combination of the several points stated enables me to produce an article of the char acter referred to, which will be simple in its construction, manufactured at a comparatively low price, convenient to handle, and efficient in every respect.

By my improvement the arm or projection D is received within a slot in the natural curve of the movable leg, so as not to be readily visible, but out of the way,where it will not be liable to be damaged or broken.

Having described my invention, I claim a semicircular part, b, the combination, with the movable leg 0, having a curved slot or opening, (1, in its part b, of the leg B, having a curved arm, D, projecting outwardly from the lower end of its part b and fitting in the slot d, the length of the arm being such that As an improvement in fire-tongs of that class in which the two legs are provided with :0 

